Ironing device



Oct. 12. 1926. 1,602,885

H. L. CUSICK IRONING DEVICE Filed March 28. 1923 .acLavszoit.

1m TUB.

Arrazrxsr:

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED, STATES K AND L. oUsIoK, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

moNmo DEVICE.

Application filed March 28, 1923. Serial No. 628,219.

The present invention relates to drying and ironing devices, and isespecially designed to be used in connection with the semi-stiff andsoft collars in common use.

It has as some of its more desirable features the following. The deviceis portable and easily manipulated, and the use of the sad-iron iseliminated. The face of the collar or collars being ironed is kept in acleancondition, and dust is prevented from lodging thereon until thecollars are thoroughly dried.

The device can be used to dry and iron both the soft or lined collars,as well as what are called the semi-stiff collars in common use. orlined collars under tension while being dried and ironed, so as toinsure them against being wrinkled after they are dried.

The semi-stiff collars are foundnot to need thismeans of wrinkleprevention, but said tension means can be used in'connection with thesemistifl collars if desired.

Means is also provided for evenly drying the collars being ironed, andalso for evaporating the water which is freed from the collars while thelatter are in a wet condition.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this "specification- I haveshown a a complete example of the best form so far devised for thedrying and ironing device, and also a modified form thereof as will befurther explained hereinafter as the description of the device proceedsherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ironing and drying device, shownpartly in section' for purposes ofillustration.

Figure 2 is a side elevation'of a baffleplate used in the device. iFigure 3 isan end view of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a] partial longitudinalsection of a portion of the device taken on line 1- 1 of Figure 1. l

Figure 5 is a partial end v ew of the device shown in Figure 1. Figure 6is a perspective view of a tension means used. a i

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modifled form ofthe ironing device.I

In the drawings 1 is a semi-circular sheet of metal, preferably of Zincwhich has been well oxidized by the weather; 2, 3, 4t, and 5 are un'i htlegs usually of band-iron or steel. ac pair of legs is connected by aarose piece 6, and there are feet referably Means is provided forplacing the soft provided on the bottom of said legs as shown in thedrawings. The metal sheet 1 is attached or mounted on the legs as ameans of support, and on the lower edges of said sheet 1 are thereturned portions 7, 8 for a purpose described below. The ends of thegutter-like returned portions are closed by metal at points 9, 10 asshown to prevent the egress of any water which may collect in saidgutters. A baffle-plate 11 preferably curved is mounted within thesemi-circular sheet 1 and is secured on the cross-pieces 6, 6 at points12, 12 as shown. It is noted that a space indicated by 13, 13 ismaintained between the baifle-plate 11 and the sheet 1 so that the heatascending from the stovel' l after being reduced somewhat in temperatureby 'the bailleplate, reverberates and' gradually passes around the space13 between the baflie-plate', and the ironing and drying metal sheet 1.The purpose of said arrangement being to so reduce the temperature ofthe heated air that there is no chance of scorching the collars 15,which are reposing on the outer side of the sheet 1.

The ends .16, 16 of the device are closed by the bent metal plates 17,17, the latter having preferably an inwardly turned flange 18, 18 bymeans of which they are attached to the cross-bars 6, 6 at points 12,

12. One or more apertures 19, can be made in the end-plates 17, 17 forthe purpose of further reducing the temperature of the captured gases inthe space 13 before mentioned. '20, indicates a hook which may beattached to the semi-circular plate 1 at intervals along its side as at21, 21, etc. for the purpose of attaching the ends of collars thereto asindicated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The adjusting bar 22 shown inFigure 6 has a number of thumb-screws 23, mounted therein for thepur'poseof engaging the ends of collars thereon as shown in Figure 1.The adjusting bar 22 has returned ends 24, 241 for engaging theprojecting ends 25, 25 of the metal plate 1,and when the screws 26, 26are tightened up against the outer surface of the ends 25 it is evidentthat the bar 22 is rigidly secured to the device. It is further seenthat by raising the end 27 of the said bar 22 that different lengths orsizes of collars can be attached to the hooks 20 and to the said bar Itis noted that the semi-stiff or-un-lind collars incomrnpn use do not;need the seamen process provid ed by the use of the hooks 20 andadjusting bar 2, as they do not tend to wrinkle during the drying andironing, but that the soft. and lined collar being of double thicknessusually needs the tension method of handling.

The use of the ironing device from what has been said it is believed isnow evident, the collars 15, are first washed and thoroughly cleansed inthe usual fashion, and when thoroughly wet are placed on the outersurface of the zinc sen'ii circular plate 1 with their face down. Thesoft collars being placed under proper tension by means of the hooks andadjusting bar The device is then placed on the top of a stove 1%, andthe ascending heat from the stove meets the balile-plate 11 andrevcrberating passes around through space 13, and dries the col larsplaced on the outer side of the plate 1. and as there is a good deal ofadhesion and suction by the oxidized zinc plate 1, the semi-stiffcollars readily are held under tension until they are thoroughly ironedand dried, leaving them in a surface condition as if they had beenironed with a sad-iron. In the case of the soft or lined collars themethod of attaching their ends to the hooks 20 and adjusting bar 22accomplishes the same purpose of surface tension while being dried andironed.

It is further seenthat as the face surface of the collars 15, is alwaysunderneath that no dust can settle on the usable surface of the collarsduring the drying process. As the collars have to be thoroughly wet whenplaced on the ironer, there is considerable water squeezed out of themin handling, and to prevent the water from getting on the stove 1d, thegutter-like returned edges 7 and 8 are formed on the plate 1 as beforedescribed. It is found in practice also that the water which collects inthe gutters usually is entirely evaporated before the collars are dry.The bathe-plate 11 reducing the temperature of the heated air enablesthe collars to be dried more evenly than would be the case without suchmeans being used.

The portability of the device is self-evident and constitutes one of itsmost important features, as it can be readily removed from the stove andtakes up very little space when not in use.

Attention is directed to the use of zinc which is oxidized on itssurface by weathering as being the only suitable metal so far foundwhich will exactly accomplish the purpose of the invention, and enablethe semi-stiff collars to be ironed well and without the use of thetension means above described.

So important a matter is this use of the oxidized zinc, that new andshining surfaced zinc or tin will not accomplish the purpose, as thecollars slip and wrinkle while drying, there being no surface adhesionor longitudinal tension on them. Evidently portions of the collarsadhere to the zinc surface, when oxidized zinc is used, and as thelittle globules of water are evaporated from the collar, little vacuumspaces are formed on the collar surface, thus sucking the said surfacesnugly to the face of the zinc, and this combined adhesion and suc tionis more than sufficient to securely place the collar under longitudinaltension during the drying process. It is of course quite evident that ifsteel or iron were used for the semi-circular plate 1 they would rustafter a short time in service and soil the collars while being ironed;also that galvanized iron peels off on the surface; and that copper willform verdigris, so that it is seen that oxidized or weathered zinc withsmall pitholes in its surface forms the ideal material for the purposein mind;

In Figure 7 of the drawings I have shown a modified form of the ironer,which is also a. very good form or type of ironing and drying device, inwhich 28 indicates an. oxidized zinc metal plate having an out wardlyprojecting flange 29, 29 on each side thereof, and gutters 30, 31 formedtherein.

Perforations 32, 32 are made in the plate 28 i to permit water drippingfrom collars 33 to pass inside the said plate 28 to the inner gutter 31.The drippings from collars placed on the device at points 84:, arecaught by the outer gutter 30 as is readily understood. T'he device asmodified has the legs 35, 35 as in the preferred type, for holding itsome distance above the stove let to avoid getting the device too hot,and scorching the collars being ironed thereon.

I claim:

1. In an ironing device, a bent metal plate mounted on supports, meansmounted along one side of the said metal plate adapted to hold the endsof articles placed thereon, and an adjusting bar mounted along theopposite side of the bent metal plate adapted to hold the free ends ofthe aforesaid articles, for the purpose of creating a longitudinaltension in the articles and prevent shrinkage when they become fullydried.

2. In an ironing device, a bent metal plate mounted in supports, meansmounted along one side of the metal plate for holding the ends ofarticles placed thereon, an adjusting bar mounted along the oppositeside of the metal plate adapted to create a tension in articles beingdried on the latter, and means for directing the flow and storing thewater squeezed from the articles being ironed, until the water can beevaporated.

3. In a portable ironing device. a semicircular plate mounted on a pairof end supports, a baffle-plate on said supports, a pair of guttersformed on the lower edges of the lflll semicircular plate, a series ofhooks mounted along one side of said plate, and an adjusting bar mountedalong the opposite side of the semi-circular plate for the purpose ofcreating a longitudinal tension in articles being ironed on the latter.

4. In an ironing device, a bent metal plate having a roughened andpitted'sur face for creating a strong adhesional and suctional hold onarticles placed on said metal plate While in a saturated condition,means for directing the flow of Water squeezedv from such articles Whilebeing dried, and means for storing said flow until same can beevaporated. j

5. In an ironing device, a bent metal plate having a pitted surfaceadapted to create a suctional hold on saturated articles placed thereon,and a series of hooks mounted along one side of the bent metal plate,and.

in the saturated articles, and prevent shrink- .means for holding thesaid return-ed ends of the adjusting bar in pressing engagement with theends of the metal plate.

7. In a portable ironer, a curved metal plate having a pair ofprojecting ends formed thereon, an adjusting bar having returned endsthereon'for engaging the projecting ends of'the said metal plate, andthumb-screws mounted in the adjusting bar for securing the said returnedends thereof against the metal plate. r v

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

. HYLAND L. CUSIOK.

